Episode Overview

Podcast: The Fundraising Masterminds Podcast
Episode: #112 – The Journey of the Faithful Steward: The Key to Relationship Development [Development 101]
Hosts: Jason Galasinski (“A”) and Jim Dempsey (“B”)
Date: December 24, 2025

This episode delves into the heart of nonprofit fundraising and development, contrasting a transactional approach with what the hosts call the “Journey of the Faithful Steward.” Jason and Jim challenge nonprofit leaders to reframe donor relationships: not as a strategy to extract money, but as a spiritual partnership that empowers both the giver and the organization. The conversation explores the biblical foundations of stewardship, practical methods for relationship development, and how transforming your fundraising mindset can lead to deeper mission alignment and sustainable funding.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. From Transactional to Transformational Fundraising

• Transactional Fundraising Defined
  • Moves management, when viewed solely through a secular lens, reduces donors to “points” on a path toward maximum giving (00:10, 20:25).
  • Such an approach can feel manipulative and often results in burnout for development professionals.

    “If your sole motivation is to get money from someone, don't do it. Look for another occupation, look for another effort, or stay out of development.” – Jim (00:36, 21:36)

• Transformational & Relational Focus
  • True development is a journey that honors the donor as a ‘partner’ and ‘steward’ rather than simply a ‘donor’ (04:49, 07:34).
  • It’s about aligning the giver’s deepest passions with the organization’s mission for mutual joy and impact.

2. Understanding Stewardship (Biblical Roots)

• God Owns It All
  • “God owns everything. And the concept is important to understand and remember is that God is not owning and selling it to us. God is asking us to steward his resources.” – Jim (10:05)
  • Donors (or ‘partners’) are managing, not owning, the resources entrusted by God; the nonprofit’s role is to help them steward wisely.
• The Parable of the Vineyard as a Model
  • Unfaithful stewards in Jesus’ parable misunderstood their relationship to the “vineyard." The story’s lesson: true stewards act on behalf of the owner, not themselves (11:45 - 12:56).
• Citing Scripture
  • Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” (09:57)
  • The journey of stewardship requires a personal relationship with God and a heart aligned with His will.

3. Development as Ministry, Not Manipulation

• Development Work as Spiritual Guidance
  • The nonprofit leader’s job is to “come alongside and work with the stewards” to discover and act on God’s will for their giving (14:08).
  • Asking good questions and listening deeply is more important than making presentations or pitches.

    “It’s more important to listen than to speak. You want to find out what are their desires, what makes them weep and pound the table.” – Jim (14:08)

• Joyful Giving versus Obligatory Donating

  • The intersection of a donor’s passion and an organization’s opportunity creates not only funding but personal fulfillment for the donor (15:35 - 26:37).

  • When donors’ hearts align with your mission, support becomes joyful and proactive:

    “Now they start to have joy in being able to give to you... Their motivation for getting those extra dollars is to win souls.” – Jason (26:08)

4. The 'Journey of the Faithful Steward': Rethinking Moves Management

• Adapting vs. Abandoning Moves Management
  • The hosts discuss “moves management”—typically a stepwise, process-driven approach to relationship-building—and how, left unchecked, it becomes manipulation (20:25 - 21:36).
  • The “Journey of the Faithful Steward” is offered as a superior, biblically rooted alternative:

    “In this place, we suggest a significantly different perspective that better reflects kingdom values. We call this perspective, ‘the journey of the faithful steward.’” – Jason (quoting the book, 34:52)

• Long-Term Relationship over Short-Term Extraction
  • The ultimate goal: “taking people on a journey from becoming a first-time donor [to] joyfully wanting to invest in the kingdom work.”—Jason (35:50)

5. Stories & Analogies: Bringing the Concept to Life

• Dating & Marriage Analogy
  • Building donor relationships is compared to courtship; you wouldn’t propose marriage on the first date (17:27).
  • Organizational relationships must be nurtured with genuine care, not merely followed by checklists.
• Testimonies of Real Transformation
  • Jason shares how a mission trip participant became so engaged he pivoted his life and business to support the cause (26:37 - 28:18).
  • Jim tells about a donor who delayed retirement to earn and donate a million dollars—and then chose to do it again:

    “He went back to work to make that million dollars, fulfill that commitment that he made to us, but he made it to God... [Now] he came back and said, 'I'm ready for my second million.'” – Jim (29:51)

6. Mindset Matters: Semantics Reflect Mission

• The language you use (“friendraising” vs. “fundraising”; “partner” vs. “donor”) should represent a deeper internal shift, not just a warmer vocabulary (39:05, 39:51).
• “It's really about love, really. At the end of the day, I think if you think about, you know, someone that you really love or something that you really love […] your heart is in it.” – Jason (39:51, 40:02)
• Every interaction becomes an invitation, not an ask; appeals become opportunities for joyful investment (40:02 - 41:05).

7. Practical Application: How to Lead Partners on the Journey

Tactical Steps (43:04 – 45:22):

• Listen Deeply: Prioritize understanding the donor’s heart, passions, and their sense of God’s calling.
• Help Donors Discern Their Calling: Encourage them to pray and seek where God wants them to give; help them prioritize (share stories of donors who did this).
• Walk With, Don’t Push: Cultivate the relationship, journeying alongside rather than rushing for an end result.
• Encourage Bold Stewardship: Provide invitations to give, not pressure or manipulation.

  “You want to encourage them by challenging them to greater levels of stewardship. And what that means is providing them with opportunities and invitations…” – Jim (43:04 – 45:22)

• Include, Don't Extract: Your organization is an avenue for their impact; including donors in the mission leads to sustainable, enthusiastic support.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Motivation & Longevity in Development:

  “I wouldn’t be in development if it was all about the money. I have loved and valued relationships with people and our ability to partner together.” – Jim (21:36)

• On The Joyfulness of Giving:

  “When you can find that intersection, that’s your sweet spot.” – Jim (14:08)

• On a Shift from Transactional to Transformational:

  “You moved it from transactional to transformational, Jason. … And it’s not because you want his money. You see the joy you have given him … and that’s development.” – Jim (28:24)

• On Mission Drift and Realignment:

  “As a development director, it’s easy to get inspired by these ideas, and then the reality of money gets you back into, ‘I've got to get money now.’ It’s easy to fall back into the trap of moves management or treating people like means.” – Jason (46:18)

• The Core Mission:

  “There are no asks, there are only invitations. You’re not applying pressure. You’re inviting them to an opportunity, guided by discernment and the Holy Spirit.” – Jim (40:02)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Transactional vs. Transformational Fundraising: 00:10 – 06:59
• Partners as Stewards (Stewardship Defined): 07:34 – 13:00
• Biblical Foundation & Parables: 11:35 – 12:56
• The Donor’s (Partner’s) Perspective: 15:35 – 17:19
• Courtship & Moves Management Analogy: 17:27 – 21:15
• Warning Against Manipulation and Burnout: 21:15 – 21:36
• Testimony: Transformational Giving Story: 26:37 – 28:18
• Testimony: Donor Delays Retirement for Mission: 29:51 – 30:57
• Development as Ministry: 32:04 – 32:43
• The Mindset Shift in Language & Practice: 39:05 – 41:05
• Practical Applications (How-To’s): 43:04 – 45:22
• Closing Reflections on Mindset, Mission, and Staying on Course: 46:18 – 47:23

Summary Table: Transactional vs. Transformational Approach

| Aspect | Transactional | Transformational (Faithful Steward) | |-----------------------|------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Focus | Extract money, move to “next level”| Align passions, empower joyful giving | | Process | Checklists, “moves management” | Genuine relationships, journey-building | | Donor Perception | ATM / Transaction | Partner, co-laborer, steward | | Spiritual Impact | Minimal | Donor AND organization spiritually enriched | | Longevity/Sustainability| Burnout, short-term | Lasting partnerships, sustainable funding |

Final Takeaway

Jim and Jason encourage nonprofit leaders to shift their development strategy from simply extracting money to curating a meaningful, spiritual partnership with donors. By recognizing donors as “faithful stewards” and walking alongside them in their journey, organizations can unleash greater joy, deeper relationships, and more abundant, sustainable giving in service to the Kingdom.

Memorable closing words:

“It’s really about love, really. At the end of the day, if you think about something that you really love, your heart is in it.” – Jason (39:51)

Recommended Next Steps:

• Reflect: What is your own motivation in development work?
• Listen: How often are you asking donors about their passions and desires?
• Invite: Shift from “asks” to “invitations” for Kingdom impact.

For further learning, consult the recommended book, "Development 101," and revisit earlier episodes of the podcast's Development 101 series for foundational concepts.

[END SUMMARY]